Welcome!
Heifer International is excited to present you with the Global Barnyard, a series
of lessons about animals and our work in the field! If you haven’t heard of
us already, Heifer International is a nonprofit organization in Arkansas that
works with communities around the world to end hunger and poverty. Since
1944, we have worked with 8.5 million families in more than 125 countries.
Animals play an important role in our work. Over the next 11 weeks
we will use stories, activities, lessons and games to show you and
your students how animals can help end hunger and poverty.
Each week will feature a different animal and be divided into three parts:
A n i m al Fac t s
has fun facts and trivia about that week’s animal.
I n t he F ield
features an activity, lesson, story or game.
M o f t he We ek
will outline and quiz students on the 7Ms, or ways that animals
help people.
If you like what you see or want to learn more, you can go to
globalbarnyard.heifer.org for more exciting
lessons, games and activities to do with your class.
1 World Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72202
(800) 422-0474 l www. heifer.org
A series of educational lessons
presented by Heifer International
Water Buffalo
A n i m al Fac t s
I n T he F ield
Water buffalo are used to plow fields
in rural parts of Asia. A farmer can
plant four times more rice with a
buffalo than by hand.
A water buffalo’s poop, or manure,
can be used to improve garden
soil or as fuel for heating
or cooking.
Bio-gas
Bio-gas is a type of fuel just like
wood or coal that can be used
to cook or heat a house, but it is
made from the manure of animals.
inlet
gas holder
M o f T he We ek
Animals produce this every
day…Manure!
There is nothing stinky
about this answer! Manure
can be used to improve
soil as fertilizer. For some
families manure may be
the only easy source of
fuel for cooking. That’s
the poop on manure!
To learn more about
fuel, visit our website.
outlet
digester
Here’s how it works.
■ The inlet is where families add manure.
■ The digester is where bacteria turn the
mixture into bio-gas and liquid compost.
■ The gas holder holds the bio-gas
before it is used for lighting, heating
or cooking.
■ The outlet carries the compost out,
where it can be used as fertilizer.
Bio-gas works just like the gas stoves we
have in our houses, and it doesn’t produce
harmful smoke like wood fires. This
means less smoke-related illnesses.
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facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
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vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
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Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
A series of educational lessons presented
by Heifer International
Pig
In
T he F ield
A n i m al Fac t s
How to Make Compost
Just like pig manure, compost
can improve your garden soil and
make your vegetables or flowers grow
stronger and healthier! Here’s how you
and your family can make some compost.
Many people think that pigs are dirty
animals, but this is untrue. Pigs roll
around in the mud because they can’t
sweat. The mud keeps them cool.
Pigs don’t have to compete with
humans for food. They can eat
our leftovers and the crop
waste we can’t eat.
■
■
■
■
M o f T he
We ek
What do you put in
a piggy bank?
That’s right, MONEY!
For many farmers around
the world, animals are
like living bank accounts
or … piggy banks!
Farmers can sell their
animals at market when
they need money.
What you need
2 liter soda bottle
■ a water spray bottle
scissors and plastic wrap
2 cups of dried leaves
1 cup of grass clippings
1 cup of chopped kitchen
scraps (no meat, bone,
or dairy)
1 cup of garden soil
■
■
soil
kitchen scrap
grass
dried leaves
Directions
■ Cut the top off the bottle.
■ Pour the ingredients into the bottle.
■ Add a little water and mix the ingredients.
■ Use plastic wrap to make a top and place
the bottle on a sunny window sill.
■ Watch your bottle, water it if it gets dry
and take the top off if it starts to smell.
Your compost will be ready when it is evenly
brown and there are no visible food scraps left.
Plant some flowers or a vegetable plant in the
compost. It will love the rich soil you’ve created!
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Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
A series of educational lessons
presented by Heifer International
Chicken
A n i m al Fac t s
I n T he F ield
A good female chicken, or
hen, can lay up to 200
eggs a year.
“The Eggs-Periment”
What do an egg shell and the Capitol building
have in common?
You can tell what a hen eats
by the color of its yolk. Hens
that eat corn make eggs
with darker yolks. Hens that
eat wheat and barley make
eggs with lighter yolks.
They both contain the shape of a dome!
Domes are strong because they spread
weight evenly. To test the strength of an
egg and the shape of a dome, try this:
M o f T he We ek
What you need
4 eggs
■ A towel
■ Books
MEAT
Meat is a treat for
many hungry people
around the world
who need protein.
Smaller animals
like rabbits and
chickens are
perfect if you don’t
have a refrigerator
for leftovers!
■
Directions
Crack each egg
in half. Throw out
their insides and the
pointy half of the shells.
■ Place a towel on a flat surface and
position the eggs on top to make a square.
■ Add books one by one on top of the egg shells
so that the weight is distributed evenly.
■
How many books do you think the eggs can hold
before they crack?
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niscin hendrem auguer si tet vel et nit nullam quat,
velit lore consequ atuercilit luptat, sum quipsusci bla
facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
estie dolobor sum ipit nullan ullupta tueriure dolor
sum nimdignisim quat acin eugait prat velis do con
vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
A series of educational lessons
presented by Heifer International
Cow
A n i m al Fac t s
When we think of milk we
think of cows, but humans
routinely drink milk that
comes from goats, water
buffalo and even camels.
One dairy cow can make up
to 4 gallons of milk a day.
That’s four jugs worth!
M of
T he We ek
Milk
I n T he F ield
How to Make Cheese
Milk is a wonderful source of protein and calcium.
It helps us grow and stay healthy. Cheese,
just like yogurt and butter, is made from milk.
Here’s how you can make cheese at home.
What you need
■ ½ gallon of whole milk
■ Medium size pot
■ ¹⁄ 8 cup of white vinegar or lemon juice
■ Spaghetti strainer
■ Seasoning (garlic powder, dill or oregano)
■ Salt
Directions
Pour the milk into the pot.
■ Heat slowly while stirring continuously
until the milk boils.
■ Turn off the heat, add vinegar or lemon
juice and continue to stir for five minutes.
You should notice the milk separating
into solids and liquid.
■ Pour the mixture into a strainer over the sink.
■ Once most of the liquid has drained out,
salt and season the cheese.
■
Milk is rich in
the proteins
humans need
to keep our muscles
healthy. Animals that
make milk are valuable
in developing countries
because other sources of
protein are difficult to find.
To learn more about
protein and developing
countries visit our website.
This delicious crumbly
cheese is best eaten loose
over crackers. It will look
like cottage cheese.
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niscin hendrem auguer si tet vel et nit nullam quat,
velit lore consequ atuercilit luptat, sum quipsusci bla
facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
estie dolobor sum ipit nullan ullupta tueriure dolor
sum nimdignisim quat acin eugait prat velis do con
vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
praestio erciliq uamcommy nonsecteIquat, sequip
Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
A series of educational lessons
presented by Heifer International
Sheep
A n i m al Fac t s
Sheep are best known for their
woolen coats. Their wool can be
turned into clothing or blankets
and sold for money.
One pound of sheep’s wool
can be spun into 20 miles
of fine yarn.
M o f T he We ek
Materials!
For thousands of years,
people have used the
materials provided by animals
for shelter, clothing, tools
and artwork. The leather
in your shoes and wool
in your sweater are both
provided by animals.
I n T he F ield
The Navajo Nation
Heifer International works with the
Navajo Nation right here in America!
The Navajo have always been famous
for their woven blankets and rugs, but
lately the wool made by their sheep has
been below their high standards. Heifer
International has helped to bring back a breed
of sheep known for their strong, fine wool.
Tim Johnson (Navajo Nation Member)
The elders have said that sheep is
what you should invest in. A sheep is
your bank. Without sheep you are a
poor person. Invest in your sheep and
it will give you back meat, wool and
money from rugs made of wool. The
more sheep you have the better you
are. The Churro is a breed that Navajo
families have bred for hundreds of
years. Heifer International is helping
us reintroduce Churro into our flocks.
To learn more about the Navajo Nation
and how they use the wool of their sheep,
visit our website.
Bor am quam, consent lortinisis nulluptat atie commy
niscin hendrem auguer si tet vel et nit nullam quat,
velit lore consequ atuercilit luptat, sum quipsusci bla
facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
estie dolobor sum ipit nullan ullupta tueriure dolor
sum nimdignisim quat acin eugait prat velis do con
vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
A series of educational
lessons presented by
Heifer International
Camel
A n i m al Fac t s
Camels can bite off and
eat the thorny plants that
grow in the desert.
Their wide feet keep them
from sinking into the sand
and the thick pads on the
bottom of their hooves protect
them from the sand’s heat.
I n T he F ield
the Maasai and their Camels
The Maasai are an African tribe that live
on the savanna between Tanzania and
Kenya. The Maasai are traditionally cattle
traders, but when there is a drought cows
die. Heifer has worked with this group
to bring camels into their community.
Camels can survive in dry times, lift
heavy loads and provide valuable milk.
Dokita Ndwala (Maasai Tribe Member)
M o f T he We ek
Muscle!
In many parts of the world larger
animals carry heavy loads, pull
carts and help farmers plow
fields. Unlike cars, animals don’t
have gas tanks that need to be
filled or spare parts that need to
be replaced. Animals get energy
from their food and they provide
their own replacements – babies.
My father taught me how to herd
camels. We look after the camels,
me and my friends. When we wake
up in the morning we get porridge
and then we take the camels to the
bush and let them graze until late in
the evening. We bring them back and
count them to make sure we haven’t
lost any in the bush. My mother sells
camel milk and gives me money to
pay for school. When we go to school
our grandfather takes care of the
camels. I like going to school.
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niscin hendrem auguer si tet vel et nit nullam quat,
velit lore consequ atuercilit luptat, sum quipsusci bla
facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
estie dolobor sum ipit nullan ullupta tueriure dolor
sum nimdignisim quat acin eugait prat velis do con
vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
praestio erciliq uamcommy nonsecteIquat, sequip
Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
A series of educational lessons
presented by Heifer International
Bees
A n i m al Fac t s
Bees provide something even
more valuable than honey by
helping plants make more
plants through pollination.
One-forth of what we eat
is grown with the help of
honey bees.
M o f T he We ek
Motivation!
Owning a farm animal
motivates families to work
hard to improve their lives.
Animals are a symbol of
hope and dignity. If they
are taken care of, they
reward their families with
milk, meat, materials,
muscle and money.
I n T he F ield
Pollination
Pollination is the way plants reproduce
and make seeds. For fruit and vegetable
plants, making seeds also means making
food for humans. Without pollination, we
wouldn’t have as much food.
Pollination
occurs when
the orange
dust called
pollen
reaches the
pollen
stigma of a
plant. This
process often
requires the
help of insects like
honey bees.
anther
stigma
A honey bee collects pollen from the
anthers of a plant, but it is messy and
some of the pollen always gets stuck on
the hairs of its body.
When the bee visits the next plant or flower,
it transfers the pollen that it carried in its
hairs to the stigma of that plant.
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niscin hendrem auguer si tet vel et nit nullam quat,
velit lore consequ atuercilit luptat, sum quipsusci bla
facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
estie dolobor sum ipit nullan ullupta tueriure dolor
sum nimdignisim quat acin eugait prat velis do con
vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
praestio erciliq uamcommy nonsecteIquat, sequip
Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
A series of educational lessons
presented by Heifer International
Goat
A n i m al Fac t s
I n T he F ield
Goats are called browsers
because they eat grass from
the ground and shrubs.
The Amazing Goat Stomach
Goats have special four-compartment
stomachs and they chew and swallow the
same food more than once! They are called
ruminants, just like sheep and cows, because
of their special stomach and digestion
process. To learn more about browsers,
grazers and ruminants, visit our website.
Goats can eat grass and
plants that we can’t digest
because they have a stomach
with four parts instead of one!
M o f T he We ek
rumen
Test Your Knowledge
How do animals help people?
Can you remember the 7 Ms?
reticulum
abomasum
omasum
A goat’s stomach has four parts:
■ The rumen breaks down the goat’s food
with bacteria. While the food is in this
part of the stomach, the goat will bring its
cud back up to chew on it several times.
■ The reticulum acts like a filter. It lets small
particles through and filters out anything
that might have been accidentally swallowed.
■ The omasum removes the water and absorbs
nutrients that give the goat energy.
■ The abomasum works just like our stomach. It
uses acid to digest the remainder of the food.
Bor am quam, consent lortinisis nulluptat atie commy
niscin hendrem auguer si tet vel et nit nullam quat,
velit lore consequ atuercilit luptat, sum quipsusci bla
facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
estie dolobor sum ipit nullan ullupta tueriure dolor
sum nimdignisim quat acin eugait prat velis do con
vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
praestio erciliq uamcommy nonsecteIquat, sequip
Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
A series of educational lessons
presented by Heifer International
Alpaca
A n i m al Fac t s
Alpacas make wool that is as soft
as cashmere and stronger and
warmer than sheep’s wool.
Alpacas have padded hooves
that don’t damage fragile soil
or cause erosion.
M o f T he We ek
Test Your Knowledge
Which of these animals make
milk that humans can drink?
I n T he F ield
An Alpaca’s Home: Ecuador
In Ecuador, Heifer International is using
alpacas to help protect the water and
land. In the mountain villages of Ecuador,
volcanic soil holds the country’s water supply.
The soil soaks up the water during the rainy
season and slowly releases it into the rivers
and lakes. Everyone in Ecuador relies on the
water stored in this soil. The alpacas help
to preserve the water supply by not eating
too much grass or damaging the soil.
Anita Piedad Morocho (Village Shepherd)
I take care of the village’s alpacas.
I manage the alpacas. They eat so
nicely. The alpacas don’t eat the
way a cow eats. Where a cow eats,
they leave it empty. They eat it all and
don’t leave anything behind. Where
an alpaca eats, it’s gentler. Where
an alpaca has grazed, the grass can
grow right back and it isn’t damaged.
To learn more about overgrazing and
erosion, visit our website.
Answer: All of them
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velit lore consequ atuercilit luptat, sum quipsusci bla
facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
estie dolobor sum ipit nullan ullupta tueriure dolor
sum nimdignisim quat acin eugait prat velis do con
vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
praestio erciliq uamcommy nonsecteIquat, sequip
Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.
Congratulations!
You’ve completed the Global Barnyard.
C ros s word Fu n
Use these images as clues to help you complete the crossword puzzle.
Across
1.How do bees help us
grow food?
2.What do hens lay?
3
4
5
Down
3.What can you put on
your garden to make
your plants grow?
4.What can you use to
make cheese?
5.What type of fuel is
made from manure?
6.What animal lives in
the dessert and is
used by the Maasai?
6
1
2
To get your completion certificate and check out other great
educational programs, visit our website at globalbarnyard.heifer.org.
Bor am quam, consent lortinisis nulluptat atie commy
niscin hendrem auguer si tet vel et nit nullam quat,
velit lore consequ atuercilit luptat, sum quipsusci bla
facccilla faccum irit vero enim nos nonsed minibh
estie dolobor sum ipit nullan ullupta tueriure dolor
sum nimdignisim quat acin eugait prat velis do con
vullutp atismod olobor alit augait dit delit lam et
praestio erciliq uamcommy nonsecteIquat, sequip
Visit globalbarnyard.heifer.org
for more fun and lessons.